HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

As you know, I don’t often cover political legisliation, but this came “across my desk” and it is very important.    In Ohio, particular in Southern Ohio, it is among the worst places to be in the country if you are a lost dog or if you are a dog or cat surrendered to a shelter.    Similar measures in other states were opposed, as irreputable breeders tried to claim that Leader Dogs for the Blind would no longer exist.   This is quite to the contrary.  The only one this will hurt are the individuals cranking out dogs and cats for profit, while so many die at the shelter.  In this area, 1 in 4 dogs is a purebred.

Compliments of the Holmes County Humane Society:

PLEASE HELP PASS THE PUPPY MILL BILL IN OHIO! The proposed House Bill 223 or Senate Bill 173 (Puppy Mill Bill) is necessary in Holmes County as well as the entire state of Ohio.

In summary: The bill proposes that a person who wants to operate a kennel needs to apply for the license. They need to be insured or bonded to operate with the amount paid corresponding with the amount of breeding dogs they have; the kennels will be inspected on a continuous basis; fines and/or relinquishing of dogs and operation of kennel incurred if violations occur; need to keep paper trail of dogs sold.

The bill proposes standard care such as big enough cages; nutritious food; fresh unfrozen water; vet care; grooming so nails won’t grown too long and matting does not occur in fur; shade provided from direct sunlight May through Sept.; adequate housing to bear elements; natural or artificial light during daytime hours; cage that is free from accumulated urine or feces which is beyond that of a 12 hour period; flooring material that does not cause injury to dog’s feet; dog that is suspected of a contagious disease should be kept away from other dogs; clean whelping box; protection from parasites; protection from heartworm; euthanization by a vet if needed; cannot beat or brutalize a dog.

 We have personally fostered many mill dogs and not one of them came to us without some kind of issue that didn’t need attention whether it health or mental. This bill is very doable for all breeders. The bottom line is that they will have to be bonded or insured to operate which will cut into their revenue. It is all about the money for them and not about producing a quality “product”.

Many Holmes County residents want this bill to pass. There are currently over 480 breeding kennels in Holmes alone. With so many shelters across the US having to euthanize thousands of homeless or unwanted dogs, it is unnecessary to have so many high volume breeding kennels. In fact, 1 out of every 4 dogs that are in shelters are pure breed. It doesn’t go unsaid that these shelters cost the county and taxpayers money. We have rescued many purebred and “designer” dogs from the Holmes County Dog Pound….. I encourage those of you living in or around Holmes county to email your county commissioner and representative.  If you live outside of Ohio, open up your address book, and contact everyone you know in Ohio.   It is more effective if local residents are encouraged to voice their support, as people who are not constituents in the area’s vote is what matters to local legislators.

You can email the county commissionar at commissioners at hcc@co.holmes.oh.us or look up your State Representative senators http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/search.cfm#reps_zip.

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